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STEPHEN BLEECKER LUCE 

REAR ADMIRAL UNITED STATES NAVY 

BORN 1827 DIED 1917 



A TRIBUTE 

BY 

CASPAR F, GOODRICH 

REAR ADMIRAL UNITED STATES NAVY 




PUBLISHED BY 

THE NAVAL HISTORY SOCIETY 

NEW YORK CITY 

1919 



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Above the fireplace in my study hang the photographs of a number 
of old friends, many of whom, alas, have already crossed the Great 
Divide. Not a few of them were, in their day, eminent figures in history. 

From his place in this little gallery of distinguished men, there looks 
down on me, as I write, an officer who has lately passed from our midst, 
full of years and honors after a lifetime unreservedly devoted to the 
service of his country ; to the upholding of the Navy's best traditions, 
himself their completest embodiment ; to the training of its youth ; and 
to that developement of the intellectual side of his profession through 
which the Navy acquired the broad vision and the skilled personnel that 
have rendered it so valuable during this War of the German Aggression, 
enabling it to act without friction to the achievement of decisive and 
carefully thought out strategic ends. 

It is as impossible to exaggerate the Navy's indebtedness to* the late 
Rear Admiral Stephen Bleecker Luce as it is to do justice to his work in 
a brief monograph. The utmost in the power of the writer is to touch 
here and there upon such points of an exceptional career as he is 
familiar with and to endeavor to depict the man himself as he appeared 
to one who loved and admired him. To disarm criticism it must be freely 
admitted that I write from the standpoint of warm affection and deepest 
professional veneration. I could not, if I would, be other than prejudiced 
in my judgments. In the appendix the principal events in Luce's life are 
given for the benefit of those who desire statistics rather than eulogy. 

It is a strange commentary upon the course of recent history to recall 
the fact that Stephen B. Luce was a midshipman on the first expedition to 
Japan — that country which for centuries had been closed to the outside 
world and that this expedition, composed of the United States vessels 
of war Coluinhns and Vincennes, starting under the command of 
Commodore Nicholas Biddle in 1845, was refused admittance to that 
country and it was not until ten years later that the foot of a foreigner 
mxade an impress on the shore of Japan, when the second expedition under 
command of Commodore Perry was permitted to land. Luce, at this time, 
was the type of a gallant young naval officer as shown in an old daguerreo- 
type of the date, and he kept this grace of figure and facial charm into 
his grand old age. ^^ Trana-er 

. : .AN 14 1920 



In fact, much as he was when Bunce painted his portrait for the Naval 
War College a dozen years ago, was Luce when he came to the Naval 
Academy at Newport, R. I., in 1862. The two score and odd years inter- 
vening between that time and his death in 1917 made but slight change in 
his lithe figure, his jaunty carriage, his inescapable air of alertness, mental 
and physical. A finely shaped head, flashing blue eyes, an aquiline nose, 
moustache and side whiskers a I'Anglaise — make up this hastily and 
roughly drawn pen portrait ; but who shall describe the unmistakable air 
of the born conunander of men or what record ean replace the memor}' 
of that high pitched tenor voice, clear as a bell and far carrying, at whose 
call "Ready About ! Stations for Stays !" we young midshipmen, on our 
practice cruises, jumped to the ropes and awaited "Rise Tacks and 
Sheets!" then "Mainsail Haul!" etc., as the good ship Marion tacked 
in a working breeze within Narragansett Bay or off Point Judith ? Lucky 
were we to get our first lessons in seamanship under such a master, for 
Luce, so far as my experience goes, as a seaman had never a superior 
and but one possible rival — Alexander A. Semmes, who in 1869 took the 
sloop of war Portsmouth, with stun'-sails set both sides, into Rio Harbor, 
and made, in the eyes of the assembled fleets of six nations, a flying 
moor which is talked of to this day. Luce could have done this I am 
sure, but I was with Semmes when he actually did it. 

There was no nonsense about Luce's teaching. It was all practical 
and to the point. Out of it grew "Luce's Seamanship," a standard work 
for decades in the Navy and the merchant marine, where it was commonly 
called "The Sailor's Bible." Gradually, as steam displaced the winds of 
heaven as the propelling force for ships, this volume began to assume the 
aspect of a treatise on a lost art, but the fundamental principles of ship 
handling and of what to do in cases of emergency remain dominant today 
just as he clarified and expressed them, so that later American books on 
Seamanship are merely the development of those principles in accordance 
with the changing conditions of nautical life. 

It was of Luce's methods not to confine his instruction to mere 
routine where all goes well and as a matter of course, but to simulate 
the unusual or even the accidental. To this must be ascribed the Saturday 
afternoons spent by my colleagues and myself, not as precious holidays 
in town am.ong our friends, but in carrying out anchors and heaving the 
Marion ofif the shoal upon which Luce had designedly grounded her. 
We grumbled heartily then, but I fancy there is not one of us who has not 
had occasion, in later years, to thank Luce for demonstrating practically 
how to get his ship out of a serious difficulty. 

As his record shows. Luce was later identified with the apprentice 
system in which boys were trained to become seamen. To this especial 
dutv he devoted four years of his life. That he further impressed upon 



tlie lads under his charge high ideals of manliness, obedience and patriot- 
ism is well known to those cognizant of his labors, nor can it be ques- 
tioned by any one who knew him. 

The dignity of the commanding officer and the authority granted 
him by law were in Luce's eyes things to be defended at all costs no 
n-iatter from what quarter came the attack. With him this view was not 
merely academic, rather was it a living force. Thus, when taking com- 
mand of the Hartford in 1875, he was confronted by an order from the 
Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting, under which came the affairs of 
the enlisted men, requiring commanding officers to submit for its previous 
approval their proposed ratings of petty officers. Luce blandly ignored 
this order that had no justification in the statute which distinctly made 
such an act part of the captain's duty and responsibility. He rated the 
men involved as he deemed best and reported the fait accompli to the 
Bureau as done under the law; confronted with which the Bureau was 
helpless to insist upon its own policy. Luce was not lacking in courage 
either physical or moral, as this bold move abvmdantly proves, for a 
Bureau in the Navy Department was and still is so extremely powerful 
as not to be lightly challenged. 

Luce's interest in his profession was not confined to tacks and sheets, 
halliards and downhauls. It rose to a far higher plane and embraced 
all which science, art and history could contribute to a seaman's value. 
Paraphrasing the old Latin dictum. "Nothing nautical was foreign to 
him." He was one of the founders of our service forum, "The Naval 
Institute," to whose proceedings he contributed the initial paper, as well 
as many others on "Ancient Naval Warfare," "Fleets of the World," 
"Naval Administration," "Naval Warfare as a Science," etc., etc., all 
marked by comprehensive knowledge of his subject and clarity of 
expression. 

He had, in conversation at least, long urged the establishment of an 
institution where the broad questions of strategy, tactics, naval history 
and international law might be dealt with, chiefly by officers of command 
rank. As he phrased it, "We have schools for everything in our profession 
except the one thing for which a Navy exists — Naval Warfare. It is 
time we founded such a school." The earliest printed argument of which 
I have knowledge occurs in a paper entitled "War Schools," read before 
the Newport Branch of the Naval Institute, April 4, 1883, in which he 
says: 

"It is the part of the naval student to prepare himself by study and 
reflection for those higher duties of his profession ; and the only way to 
do that is to study the science of war . . . and then to apply the 
principles to the military operations conducted at sea. He should be led 
into a philosophic study of naval history, that he may be enabled to exam- 



ine the great naval battles of the world with the cold eye of professional 
criticism, and to recognize where the principles of the science have been 
illustrated, or where a disregard for the accepted rules of the art of war 
has led to defeat and disaster. Such studies might well occupy the very 
best thoughts of the naval officer, for they belong to the very highest 
branch of his profession." 

His persistent advocacy of a Naval War College converted the late 
Rear Admiral John G. Walker, U. S. N., then chief of the Bureau of 
Navigation, to acceptance and loyal support of Luce's idea. A Board 
was appointed to consider the scheme and to map out a plan for its 
organization and conduct. Luce was the senior member; Sampson was 
associated with him and I brought up the rear as junior and working 
member. Our report was adopted and the Naval War College, with 
Luce as its President, — the first of its kind in any country of the world — 
was created. 

With the opposition it encountered and with its precarious early 
existence, this tribute to Luce's memory has no concern. The infant 
survived despite of all, grew into sturdy manhood, great influence and 
unsurpassed usefulness, justifying all which Luce predicted of it and 
remaining to this day, as for all time, a noble and enduring monument 
to his memory. 

It was but natural that Luce should, later, identify himself with the 
movement which led to the forming of the Naval History Society and to 
which he lent the ripe fruits of his experience and wisdom. Of our 
Society he was one of the incorporators. His name gave additional 
prestige to the project of the late Captain John S. Barnes and his 
associates. The Society recognizes its indebtedness to Luce's sympathy 
and services and mourns the loss of a member whose wide acquaintance 
with things nautical and profound knowledge of naval history, can only 
with the greatest difficulty ever be replaced, if at all. Happy the country 
which can produce even one Luce in a generation. 

Caspar F. Goodrich. 



SUMMARY OF NAVAL RECORD 

of 

STEPHEN B. LUCE. U.S.N. 

Stephen B. Luce was born in New York, March 25, 1827, and served in 
the United States Navy as follows: 

Appointed Midshipman from the State of New York. 

To Receiving Ship at New York. 

To the Congress. 

Warranted. 

Detached and leave three months. 

To the Columbus. 

Went on the first Expedition to Japan under Commodore Nicho- 
las Biddle. 

Detached from Columbus and to School, 20th instant. 

Delay reporting at School till 1st of April. 

Detached leave till 10th October and then return. 

Detached and to the Vandalia. 

Warranted as Passed Midshipman from 10th of August, 1847. 
(No. 126.) 

Detached and three months' leave. 

To duty connected with Lieutenant Gillis, Astronomical Expe- 
dition. 

Detached and to the Vixen. 

Detached and leave three months. 

To Coast Survey schooner Madison. 

Appointed Acting Master Survey schooner Madison. 

Transferred to Lieutenant Moffitt's party as Acting Master 
Tender. 

Warranted as Master from 15th September, 1855. 

Promoted to Lieutenant. 

Detached and three months leave. 

To the Naval Academy. 

Detached and to the Wabash. 

Re-commissioned from 15th September, 1855, to rank next after 
Lieutenant Thomas C. Harris. 

Detached from Wabash (went to Naval Academy). 

Promoted to Lieutenant Commander. 

Commissioned from 16th July, 1862. 

Be ready for sea service. 

Detached from Academy and to command the Nantucket. 

Detached from the Pontiac and wait orders. (No record of 
reporting on this vessel.) 

To the Naval Academy. 

Commandant of Midshipmen. 

Promoted to Commander. 

Commissioned. 

Detached from the Naval Academy, 30th September, and to com- 
mand the Mohongo per str. 16th October. (Took command 
10th November, 1868.) 

Detached, return and report. 

Detached 26th ultimo and wait orders from 7th instant. 

To command the Juniata, 1st July. 



1841 


Oct. 


19 


1841 


Nov. 


4 


1842 


Apr. 


2 


1843 


May 


3 


1845 


Mar. 


14 


1845 


May 26 


1845 






1848 


Mar. 


6 


184S 


Mar. 


24 


1848 


June 


22 


1849 


Aug. 


20 


1849 


Sept. 


29 


1852 


Oct. 


12 


1852 


Dec. 


31 


1853 


May 


9 


1854 


Feb. 


4 


1854 


May 


18 


1854 


June 


8 


1855 


June 


19 


1855 


Nov. 


9 


1855 


Sept. 


16 


1860 


Feb. 


U 


1860 


Mar. 


2 


1861 


May 


2 


1862 


Mar. 


14 


1862 


June 


9 


1862 


Aug. 


5 


1863 


Apr. 


18 


1863 


Sept. 


24 


1863 


Oct. 


13 


1865 


June 


9 


1865 


Sept. 


22 


1865 


Oct. 


6 


1866 


July 


25 


1866 


Aug. 


7 


1868 


Aug. 


29 


1869 


Apr. 


1 


1869 


June 


10 


1869 


June 


18 



Detached and wait orders. 

To equipment duty, Navy Yard, Boston, 14th September. 

To examination. 

Promoted to Captain. 

Member of Board of Examiners, Naval Academy. 

Commissioned. 

Detached as Member of Board and resume duties at Boston Yard. 

Be ready to command the Minnesota. 

Detached and to command the Minnesota, 22nd instant. 

Detached and resume duties at Boston Yard. 

Captain of Navy Yard, Boston. 

Detached 15th October, and wait orders. 

To command the Hartford, 1st November. 

Detached 21st instant, and leave one month. 

To special duty inspecting training ships. 

Inspect Supply and then wait orders. 

To temporary duty in connection with Training Ships. 

Detached 31st instant and to command the Training Ship Minne- 
sota 1st January. 

Detached 15th February and wait orders. 

Take command of all the apprentice ships to be assembled at 
Washington 25th instant. 

To physical examination. 

To examination. 

Promoted to Commodore. 

Commissioned. 

Detached 30th instant. 

Detached from special duty 26th instant, and to command North 
Atlantic Station 27th instant. 

Detached 25th instant and take command on the 26th instant. 

Appointed Acting Rear Admiral. 

Detached 20th instant and assume duties of Superintendent of 
Naval War College at Coasters Harbor Island, R. I. 

To examination. 

Promoted to Rear Admiral. 

Commissioned. 

Detached and to command the North Atlantic Station. 

Detached upon receipt of this order, return home and wait 
orders. (Relieved 16th February, 1899.) 

Will be transferred to the Retired List on the 25th instant. 

Leave one year, with permission to leave the United States. 

Appointed member of Board of Visitors, Naval Academy. 

Member Board on Awards. Office Assistant Secretary, 18th 
instant. 

Leave from March 16th to May 15th, or abroad. 

To Office Secretary, May 8th, Washington. 

Detached November 20th, home and report. (Home 20th No- 
vember.) 

1917 July 23 Died at Newport, R. I., July 28th, 1917, of arteric sclerosis myo- 
carditis and buried at Portsmouth R. I. 



1872 


July 


1 


1872 


Aug. 


16 


1872 


Dec. 


10 


1872 


Dec. 


28 


1873 


Apr. 


1 


1873 


May 


IS 


1873 


Nov. 


19 


1873 


Nov. 


29 


1873 


Dec. 


12 


1873 


Dec. 


22 


1874 


Sept. 


29 


1875 


Sept. 


4 


1875 


Oct. 


27 


1877 


Aug. 


10 


1877 


Aug. 


25 


1877 


Sept. 


17 


1877 


Sept. 


24 


1877 


Dec. 


1 


1881 


Jan. 


28 


1881 


Apr. 


11 


1881 


Nov. 


17 


1881 


Nov. 


17 


1881 


Nov. 


25 


1882 


Jan. 


14 


1884 


June 


21 


1884 


July 


16 


1884 


July 


22 


1884 


July 


23 


1884 


Sept. 


14 


1885 


Sept. 


28 


1885 


Oct. 


5 


1886 


Jan. 


30 


1886 


June 


18 


1889 


Jan. 


28 


1889 


Mar. 


20 


1893 


May 


27 


1901 


Jan. 


3 


1901 


Feb. 


14 


1901 


Mar. 


7 


1901 


May 


6 


1910 


Nov. 


15 



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